The Mourning Moon

Chapter 35

It was a lively day in the college campus. Some students were attending their lectures. Some were roaming aound the campus as they had no class at that moment. Some were chattering and complaining about the projects they had to their friends. Some were complaining about their love life or gushing over their crush. All in all it was a lively atmosphere in the college. The computer lab was no exception. But still it wasn't enough. The hustle and bustle around him was not enough.

One week. It has been one week since that incident. It has been one week and Ansh was still stuck in that moment. It's been one week now. Why was he still stuck there? Why was he not over it yet? Why can't he just forget about it and live in the present? Why? Why? Why? All these thoughts were plaguing him and his breath quickened. Ansh realized he was starting to hyperventilate. He quickly opened his bag to get a book out so that he could distract himself when his hand touched the Citrine flower that he has been carrying with him since he found it. Without thinking twice, Ansh grasped the flower and took a deep breath as he started rubbing it without taking it out of the bag. A sense of calm slowly but surely filled him. He rested his head on the bag, face down, while taking in open mouthed breath while still rubbing the flower. A hand was placed on his shoulder. Ansh turned his head to his right, still resting his head on the bag. There stood Jai, looking at him with concern.

"Are you ok, Ansh?," he asked.

Ansh gave a small smile as he nodded.

"A-Are you sure?"

Ansh nodded again.

"Okay. Um, if, if you need something, you can tell me."

Ansh gave a grateful smile to Jai and said, "Okay."

Jai nodded giving a small smile to Ansh before going to his seat.

Ansh kept on rubbing the crystal flower as he turned his head to the left to stare at the empty seat of Shreshth, wishing that he was there with him. Had Ansh not turned his head he would have noticed that Jai, too, was staring at that same empty seat, his face blank. Their attention was broken when their Professor entered the hall.

Everyone stood up to greet the professor.

Dinesh nodded and the students sat down. His eyes glanced over all the students present before coming to stop at Ansh who was taking his book out of his bag with one hand while the other remained inside the bag. He looked away and addressed the class.

"Few days ago, I had given you all to type down a programme in the class. While some of you had completed it in that class, most of you did not. Those of you who had not yet completed it will have to complete it and I want it done by today or I am going to have your scores deducted." This caused the students to groan. "Those who have completed it," Dinesh continued, "will get complementary marks in the subject. So, start your computers and get on with."

Everyone got on their work and picked up where they had left it previously, after all, those complementary marks were on line. Those who were alredy done with it were either reviewing their work or helping their friends.

Ansh, on the other hand, was still grasping the Citrine flower not letting it go even once, as he stared at the computer screen blankly.

"I see you are done with your work," Dinesh commented causing Ansh to flinch.

"Um, y-yes sir."

Dinesh stared at Ansh, before nodding and left to look over other students work.

--------

After the college was over, Ansh made his way to the bus stop. He got on the bus and sat down in an available seat. His mind was filled with the images of that day. His hands burning with fire, rain pouring down on him, lightening striking the ground, plants coming out from the ground under his feet, a tornado approaching him. Ansh's heart started racing once again, his breath quickened. He was starting to hyperventilate again. He opened his bag and put his hand inside, desperately grasping at the Citrine flower inside his bag. Once again, he did not take it out. And, once again, the flower calmed him down. Ansh released his breath, leaning his head on the backseat of the bus with his eyes closed. He did not let go of the flower until his stoppage arrived. Ansh got down from the bus and made his way home. He was on his way home when his phone started ringing. He took his phone out of his bag and slid the answer button without looking at the caller id.

"Hello?," he answered in a raspy voice.

"Ansh."

Ansh's heart skipped a beat when he heard the voice on the other end. A small smile appeared on his face automatically.

"Shreshth."

"How are you? Did you reach home?," asked Shreshth.

"I'm on my way," answered Ansh.

"I see."

"Um, where are you right now, Shreshth?"

"I am at my parents house. They needed me for something."

"I see."

"Ansh, um, do, do you want to spend some time with me, I mean, with us, you know, me, Vivaan, Somya and Ishita?"

Ansh hesitated. He did want to spend time with his friends. But he did not want to face the crowd anymore. Being in college and in the bus was already too taxing for him.

As if sensing his turmoil, Shreshth added, "We can have a sleepover at your place? Only if its okay with you."

Ansh smiled at Shreshth's thoughtfulness.

"Of course. Is today okay? We don't have college tomorrow so," Ansh said.

"That sounds great."

"I'll see you at 5."

"Okay. Bye, Ansh."

"Mm. Bye."

They ended the call. Ansh put the phone back in the bag and made his way home with the smile still staying on his face.
Once he was home, he told his mother about the sleepover. Ananya was quite delighted.

"When will they arrive?," she asked from where she was perched on the couch reading a horror book.

"At 5 o'clock," Ansh told her sitting beside her as he put his bag on the ground.

She put her book down on her lap and said, "Oh, great! Do you know what their favourite dishes are? I can make something for them or maybe order online."

"Well, you know what Ishita likes. I don't know about Somya and Vivaan but Shreshth likes samosas, kachori, veg burger and chips. He loves lemon tea and ginger tea with or without milk with two spoon of sugar. He also loves ice cream and chocolates are his favourite. Oh, he also loves Strawberry cake. His eyes sparkles when he eats the cake. And, he also," Ansh was cut off when he heard his mother giggle. He frowned at her. "What?"

Ananya shook her head as she tried to suppress her giggles. "Nothing. It's nothing. Go and freshen up. We don't want Shreshth, I mean, your friends, to show a sweaty Ansh now, do we."

Ansh pouted. He picked up his bag from the ground and made his way upstairs towards his room.

Ananya stared at her son's retreating back. A smile playing on her lips. Hearing her son gushing over Shreshth and seeing his smitten expression calmed her troubled heart down. Ansh had been down since last week. Seeing him so cheery lightened her worry. And its all thanks to his friends especially Shreshth. She is glad that her son has someone in his life who can make him smile like that. Ananya looked towards the clock. It was 3, right now. She got up from the couch, stretched her back and picked up her phone. After all, she had lots of food to order.

Soon Shreshth, Somya, Ishita and Vivaan arrived at Ansh's house. Ansh was vibrating with excitement. His eyes were drawn to Shreshth's smiling face.

"Come in," said Ansh and stepped aside to let everyone in.

Vivaan handed Ansh a huge box of sweets.

"What's this for?," Ansh asked.

"For Anshika and your parents, and, since I am generous, you as well," Vivaan answered.

"You guys didn't have to."

"We wanted to," Somya answered instead.

Ansh ushered everyone to his room and followed them after handing the sweets to his mother.

Right now, all five of them were sitting in Ansh's room, Somya and Ishita on the bed while Vivaan, Shreshth and Ansh on the ground.

"So," Ishita clapped her hands once, "what's the plan?" She looked at her friends clueless face.

"Play carrom?," Vivaan offered.

Ishita hung her head low and sighed, exasperated. What was she going to do with her boring friends?